Thanksgiving

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

                                                                        James 1:2-4

As we enter this time of Thanksgiving, I was meditating on the above passage found in the Book of James.  I feel like the time of merely facing a trial has passed and now I am walking through it.  When I was first faced with the thought of Akhil having ALS, I honestly couldn't find much joy in it; however, now that the journey has commenced, I can process what I have to be thankful for.  If you also are walking through a time of trial in your life, I hope my list of blessings will help you see the purpose in your suffering.

• I am thankful for my family, friends and my relationship with God for without them, this would be a scarey, lonely journey
• I have an understanding of what suffering is although I can still imagine far great suffering than what we are going through
• I am grateful for the kindness of strangers and acquaintances like the person I met only a couple of times who volunteered to help with Akhil and the person who left me pumpkin bread and a kind neighbor designing a wheelchair ramp for us
• I have a greater sense of compassion because I know what it is to be hurting and in need of comfort
• God has put people in my life that wouldn't be there were it not for this illness
• Akhil's ALS allowed God to restore my daughter's relationship with Him
• I live the verse, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  
• I am grateful that God led us to Washington where Akhil works for a wonderful company, Power Engineers, that has supported us every step through this journey.  His illness has given them an opportunity to show the character of their company and I am sure God is proud.
• It is in suffering that our true character is revealed.  
• I see how God is using this trial to "polish us" by teaching us things we could never have learned otherwise
• I am thankful that God's glory can be reflected in us as we continue to walk by faith knowing that God uses ALL things for the good of those who love Him
• If, because of Akhil's ALS,  just one more person can develop a relationship with God perhaps because they are praying for the first time in their life or because they see something in us that they want so they too can persevere when challenges come, this suffering is all worth it.